Thursday, November 7, 2019

Swimmingly.


Yesterday,The Old Farmer bought his new lady friend to visit the village. A major moment in the development of their relationship. She is introduced to the PONs before being driven to the mayors house for a coffee. I note that the venerable silver Mercedes has been polished until it sparkles. He is wearing cargo pants, open toed sandals and a brown check shirt. She is in red. Red leggings, red shoes, red skirt, red blouse, red jacket and red coat. Before they go he turns on his collection of Christmas lights. She tells him they're 'marvellous'.

This morning it's still wet. Still windy. The cushions on the bench in the terrace all scattered  by the gale. The PONs look at me as if to say ' You should have taken those inside a month ago '.


They then follow me through the house. The subplot is making sure I don't forget to take them  off to the cafe for a curly croissant end. Todays cake selection humdrum but there are additional choux pastry crumbs to go with the croissant. An indication that this is indeed the best day ever. Bobs tail thwacks against my chair.


Books I've finished this month.

This history of the US was a fast moving, high jinx type tale that only goes to show that there's nothing new under the sun. I enjoyed it.


This turned out to be a gentle, intelligent walk through European history. Didn't really relish opening it ( thought from the title the subject might be a bit dry ) but found the book to be well written and full of reasoned and enlightening insights. Probably one of the most thought provoking books of the year. Brexit casts a doleful shadow through its final pages. 


And this was a delight.


13 comments:

Lisa in Tokyo said...

I think I will have to read the tree book. I wonder whether you are clearing things out ahead of the new Anonymous book? More importantly, did the Old Farmer manage to avoid an encounter between his new friend and the Belgian lady?

Angus said...

I noted that The Old Farmer took the long route to avoid passing the Belgian lady.

WFT Nobby said...

The tree book has been on my reading list for a while. Thanks to this recommendation it's now risen to the top.
So pleased to read that all seems to be going well with the Old Farmer's new relationship. I shall now think of his special friend as 'the lady in red'.

Anonymous said...

Dear ANGUS: Try and see a wonderful documentary from a year or so ago. JUDI DENCH - MY PASSION FOR TREES. She enlightened us when she explained exactly how trees communicate with one another. Quite unbelievable, quite enlightening. I believe it was shown originally on the BBC. Hope you can find it. Warmest regards from the Westcoast of Canada.

Poppy Q said...

I love an eclair. The trees book is on my list, but I might skip the other two. I am reading Bill Brysons The Body which is a cracker of a read.

Julie

Taste of France said...

Jill Lepore is great in the New Yorker. I haven't read this book, but I've heard her in several interviews about it. Similar with the book about trees. (If you want the gist without as much reading, with a mind-boggling variety of topics, check out Fresh Air with Terry Gross, who is possibly the reigning best interviewer).
As for the OF, his new love and his old one, glad he is happy and hoping the Belgian lady isn't broken hearted. A very independent friend moved in with her lover, both in their mid-70s. To be precise, she moved into a kind of cabin on his property, where a few other of his paramours also lived. I was surprised she put up with this situation, but she said that opportunities for hugs and cuddles are rare at her age. Senior polyamory in a little village in the south of France.

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

I'll take anything from the cafe today - I missed dinner last evening, so I might not even share with Bob or Sophie.

I listened to the audiobook version "The Hidden Life of Trees" on my way to Tennessee last summer and found it exceptionally narrated. I've always found trees captivating and now wonder about those that are growing alone.

Angus said...

Thank you. Not every blog is lucky enough to have the words 'senior polyamory' introduced into its comment section. Fwiw the Belgian lady seems to be relieved that the threat of a trip to Belarus in an ancient Ford Transit motorhome haws disappeared.

Angus said...

No matter how hungry you are the chance of not sharing with Bob and Sophie ( or more particularly Sophie ) would be minimal.

Angus said...

Well worth it.

Angus said...

Will Google. Thanks.

Angus said...

A solid but uninspiring choice of cakes today - the eclairs of the one mouthful variety.

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari Om
I shall add the Trees and the Europe books to my wishlist... Had heard of the former but not the latter. That fruit flan on the left has caught my attention... YAM xx